Written by Tadashi
Modified & Updated: 27 May 2024
Reviewed by Jessica Corbett
At first glance, Costa Rica looks like another small Central American country. But in this case, appearances do deceive, as it has the most successful historical record out in the region. Learn more about this amazing country with these 50 facts about Costa Rica.
- 01Costa Rica has an estimated area of 51,060 km².
- 02Water makes up an estimated 1.5% of the country’s area.
- 03It also has an estimated population of 5 million people.
- 04This gives the country an estimated population density of 85 people for every km².
- 05Costa Rica lies in the GMT-6 time zone.
- 01Humans first arrived in what would become Costa Rica around 10,000 B.C.
- 02Christopher Columbus became the first European to arrive in Costa Rica in 1502.
- 03The Spaniards described Costa Rica as their poorest colony in the 18th century.
- 04Costa Rica became part of Guatemala after it gained independence in 1821.
- 05Costa Rica became its own country in 1838.
- 06The country’s economy boomed through the early 19th century thanks to trade with Britain and the USA.
- 07A military dictatorship briefly ruled Costa Rica from 1917 to 1919.
- 08The Costa Rican Civil War erupted in 1948 and lasted only 44 days.
- 09Proper elections in Costa Rica resumed in 1953 under a new constitution.
- 10Costa Rica today has the reputation of Central America’s most stable democracy.
- 01Costa Rica spends 6.9% of its budget on education, more than the global average of 4.4%.
- 02The Press Freedom Index rates Costa Rica as having the seventh freest press in the world.
- 03The World Happiness Report similarly rates Costa Rica as the 12th happiest country in the world.
- 04It also has the status of the 37th most democratic in the world according to the Freedom in the World Index.
- 05The Human Development Index rates Costa Rica as the fifth-most developed in Latin America.
Was this page helpful?
Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.